R&B Xmas Concert Review: An Emotional Journey Back to the Nineties
The yearly R&B Xmas Ball featured a lineup of performers known for their holiday records. Rather than focusing on seasonal songs, the night acted as a sentimental reason for a trip back to the sincere and emotional style of 1990s R&B.
Starting Acts: Classic Vibes
The group Dru Hill delivered iconic R&B in matching outfits, with videos from the 2000s era playing on screens behind them. Next, a set of mostly slow jams from Joe set the stage for the main acts.
The Moving Set
The beginning of the song Last Last cleverly transitioned into He Wasn’t Man Enough, tying in Braxton's musical legacy. Initially, her show with a backing band seemed anchored in the time period of her greatest success.
Then, nine songs into her performance, she opened up about her struggle with lupus and being told she might not perform live again. Performing Breathe Again in a solitary beam of light, she gave a profoundly heartfelt performance. “For as long as I live, I will never forget tonight,” she declared sincerely.
Power chords then catapulted the audience into Long As I Live, cementing her grip over the crowd's hearts. She finished with an impeccable, though somewhat abridged, version of her iconic hit, Un-break My Heart.
The Group Boyz II Men: Harmony Masters
Taking the stage in strikingly coordinated all-white outfits, Boyz II Men began with Motownphilly. They moved through hits like Water Runs Dry and On Bended Knee, demonstrating breathtaking three-way harmonies that were both precise and responsive to their accompaniment.
Their performance featured interpretations of influences, including a memorable solo on Purple Rain, and tracks influenced by them, like Bruno Mars’s Locked Out of Heaven.
A Touch of Christmas Spirit
Finally, the evening turned to the Christmas mood with performances of Silent Night and Let It Snow. The show ended with a strong closing run of anthems including One Sweet Day, I’ll Make Love To You, and End of the Road.
Overall Impressions
While the evening's technical execution had some hiccups, and the feeling at points was of artists paying homage to their past selves, the overall result was transformative. The crowd was temporarily taken back to the golden age of R&B, going home sprinkled with glitter rather than snow.
